Speaking Out Against Hate

I was suppose to put up a post for ABC Wednesday this week, but with all that has been going on I just couldn't bring myself to write a light hearted post.  I hope to rejoin ABC Wednesday next week.

Yesterday morning I put on my "Virginia Is For Lovers" t-shirt.  It was not just by chance.  Yesterday was the memorial service for Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, VA.  At one time Virginia was my home and it was my way of remembering the sad event of this past Saturday ...as if I could ever forget.

For as long as I can remember we have never been without racism and hate in this country, but in recent times it was usually dormant. Hate minded people mostly confined their comments to the privacy of their own homes, in their own circle of like minded friends, and of course on the Internet. Every so often hatred would reel it's ugly head in an incident that couldn't be ignored.  Living in Texas one incident that always stands out in my mind was the 1998 dragging death of a black man by three white supremacists in Jasper, Texas.  He was dragged behind a pick up truck for three miles along an asphalt road.  He was alive and conscious for most of that horrific time.  I have never understood this degree of hate.  Hating someone just because of their skin color?  If you would like to learn more click here.

After the tragedy in Charlottesville President Trump showed his true colors when he was unable to outright denounce the white nationalists and neo-Nazis who showed up with one thing on their minds...violence and hatred. Many have come out and criticized his stand, but in my opinion they often haven't gone far enough.  Of course, the David Dukes of the world have praised and complimented him.  We better be prepared for more violence.  The haters now feel even more empowered.

After hearing from critics the President changed tactics and tried to imply that the tragedy in Charlottesville was all about Confederate statues.  Well, only in America do ancestors of slaves have to attend high schools with names like Robert E. Lee High and play in parks with statues of people  that fought to continue to treat their ancestors no better than animals. Yes, these statues are part of our history.  For now lets take the statues down and have meaningful dialogue about how to handle our painful past.  It's time.

I am old enough to remember the Civil Rights movement.  I was fortunate enough to have parents that would point out the injustices, violence, and hate.  From a very young age I knew that it was wrong.  If you are too young or don't remember please listen to Congressman John Lewis' "Note To Self" from the CBS Morning News.  If it doesn't bring tears to your eyes you might want to ask yourself why.

To further understand you might want to plan a visit to one of the Civil Rights Museums with your children and grandchildren.  We must try and stop this kind of hate from being passed on from one generation to the next.

I can no longer just look the other way.  I feel the need to speak out.  We are all God's children.  We need to pray for this President before his lack of impulse control, temper, hate, and fragile ego lead us down a path where we don't need to go.  This is a very sad time in America.